UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and #1 contender Quinton Jackson are letting some cats out of some bags this morning. First we have the above image taken from the homepage of Machida’s official site, which announces that Machida and Jackson will be fighting each other in September — we’re guessing at UFC 103, since that show is currently without a main event, though the Couture/Nogueira card is also earlier that month.

But here’s the weird part: TUF 10 is slated to premiere in September — and weren’t Machida and Rampage supposed to be coaching against each other? Well, Rampage will definitely be a coach on the show (visual proof after the jump), but new reports indicate that the Dragon will be sitting this season out.

So here’s the deal: After passing along word that Lyoto Machida won’t be participating in TUF 10, Fighters Only has confirmed that it’ll be Rampage vs. Rashad Evans as the season’s coaches. Really. Black on Black Crime: the Series. It kind of makes sense, since fans want to see that scrap no matter what happens with the Machida vs. Jackson title fight. Plus, Jackson and Evans already have a rivalry in place, which should translate to good reality television. Unfortunately, this means Machida doesn’t get a popularity bump from the reality show, but hey, there will be plenty of time to promote him as the UFC’s light-heavyweight champion.

Here’s the real concern — will filming another season of TUF distract Rampage from preparing for Machida? Shouldn’t he be spending the next four months studying the ways of the karateka?

Cagepotato Comments

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While we're on the subject of Lyoto I just want to say that 'My fight wiffa cheeto' is the BEST SCREEN NAME EVER!!

ArmFarmer- May 28, 2009 at 1:18 pm

I think the best thing to do is take two fight night/tuf finale main eventer caliber guys that could easily build a grudge and put them on to coach, then have them as the co main event of a ppv with a good title fight. Then you've got your tuf show, good coachs, you've got your grudge match, and you don't shelf top 3 fighters for a year. You also have a ppv that not only has a title fight but also has a highly hyped/marketed co main event or even just regular main card fight. I think that would make for some strong ppv numbers without pissing off any hardcore fans.

For example..
Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg, neither of them are close to a title shot but they are both names, both assholes, and they have a history. No one would care that they would be shelved for that long, but by the time the shows near it's end there would have been enough build up to actually make these guys relevant again at least as far as enterainment value goes.

So then when ppv time comes you have Rampage/Machida main event, and Hughes/Trigg as the co main event or main card fight, with one or two other interesting match ups on the main card.

Those are just the first two guys that popped into my head that aren't close to a title shot but are still being marketable and decent fighters, I'm sure we could come up with something better if we spent more than 5 minutes on it like I just did, but you get my point. There are plenty of other guys that fit that category.

ArmFarmer- May 28, 2009 at 1:05 pm

UFC has been around sense the 90's and started flourishing around what 6 years ago? How long has strikeforce existed? Not 20 years like ufc, not even 6 I'm sure. Obviously there's no way strikeforce is going to compare to ufc at this point when ones been around 3 times as long and was the original mma organization in America, but they are growing and doing very well and they don't need a stupid reality show to continue their growth.

There was a lot more to the success of the ufc than the reality show. Granted that was a part of it but there was way more to it than that. Regardless the ufc is doing just fine now. I could see the argument your making 4 or 5 years ago, but enough is enough they don't need it anymore. TUF could get canceled today and I doubt many people would give a shit and I doubt it would hurt ppv buys enough to be noticed. I'm not saying they should do that though, I'm just saying it's fucking stupid to put titles on hold for a dumb reality show. They could still have the show and still use it to put asses in seats without using top contenders or title holders as coachs.

Kevin Marshall- May 28, 2009 at 11:52 am

@ArmFarmer:
"lol give me a break. Strikeforce better come out with a shitty reality show quick or they are going to tank!"
You're comparing StrikeForce to the UFC. Take a look at the financials of both companies and then come back to me with the merits of NOT putting a company's top stars on a reality show that's been one of the driving forces behind its success and the reason for its breaking through into the mainstream.

As for Rampage sacrificing training to do the show - unless I'm mistaken they start shooting within the next couple weeks. Considering Rampage/Machida is (at least) four months off, he wouldn't start training full-time for this fight until around the time shooting wraps up anyway. I mean it's Jackson we're talking about here - he SHOULD be preparing for Machida like yesterday, but everyone knows how he is about training.

Dana White- May 28, 2009 at 11:24 am

I dont think its Shogun he cant speak da english well lol.

NECROPHYTE- May 28, 2009 at 11:13 am

@ TheHuytonHandGrenade

Hell yeah, if Forest beats Spider Silva then he has to be deserving of a title shot. Who else is worthy of a title shot if not Forest?

ArmFarmer- May 28, 2009 at 11:07 am

"And to those who are protesting/angry/upset/confused about big-name UFC fighters being coaches on the show - do yourselves a favor and never get into television or MMA. Whatever company you're working for would be bankrupt within a month."

lol give me a break. Strikeforce better come out with a shitty reality show quick or they are going to tank!

One Two- May 28, 2009 at 10:08 am

Forest won't beat silva n shoguns the only guy other than wandy whos beat Page besides eastman which he avenged and sakuraba which was like 10 years ago.

TheHuytonHandGrenade- May 28, 2009 at 9:53 am

How the fuck is Shogun anywhere near fighting machida hes a bag of shite at the moment got lucky against chuck, does anonethink if Forrest puts a beating on silva he we be next in line after rampage?

One Two- May 28, 2009 at 9:23 am

yeah top fighters need to be training and fighting not doing television shows, shogun does make more sense after rampage beats machida shogun would be next in line.

AntonG420- May 28, 2009 at 9:19 am

lol shogun doesnt speak english, how is that gonna work out ? unless they bring in a brazilian top team SICKKK

Hum Deez Nutz- May 28, 2009 at 9:19 am

Should have a collard greens and fried chicken eating contest to decide who gets to pick the 1st fight.

Kevin Marshall- May 28, 2009 at 8:29 am

Jackson/Rashad as coaches makes more sense from a business standpoint. To be honest, I really don't think Machida has the charisma or personality to get any sort of bump from being on "The Ultimate Fighter."

And to those who are protesting/angry/upset/confused about big-name UFC fighters being coaches on the show - do yourselves a favor and never get into television or MMA. Whatever company you're working for would be bankrupt within a month.

DAN THE VIKING- May 28, 2009 at 8:27 am

Hey Mayhem, its apparrently gonna be SHOGUN! Not RASHAD!
And dont worry Rampage will 'accidentally' knock him out anyway.
Exit the era of Machida.

Jay Smith- May 28, 2009 at 8:25 am

I agree with Armfarmer. I don't see anyone beating Machida for a long time. I guess I'll just focus on Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin. I hope that fight ends up better than I think it will.

Levi Jones- May 28, 2009 at 8:22 am

I had a feeling that was what their plan was. Looks like Lyoto spoiled their plan.

PHELPS- May 28, 2009 at 8:20 am

I won't redirect to cp competition, but I'm reading that its Lyoto vs Shogun in september with Rampage and Lyoto in december. Seems to make more sense with the show.

mayhem- May 28, 2009 at 8:13 am

This makes no sense. Rampage should be working on getting ready for his fight with Lyoto and not "coaching" on TUF.
If he goes into the Lyoto fight with his standard boxing approach like he did vs Forrest and Keith he is going to get beat pretty bad.
I have 0 intrest on watching him banter with Rashad when they are not even going to be fighting anytime soon.

ArmFarmer- May 28, 2009 at 8:06 am

Yeah someone would eat lyotos fruit platter and think he peed in it to get back at them and he's just like "You are mistaken, I always eat my fruit whiffa urine"

Homoplata- May 28, 2009 at 7:58 am

lyoto not eating fruit salad in urine? LAME!!!!

BuckWild- May 28, 2009 at 7:57 am

It will never happen but the only way to test either The Spider or The Dragon would be to have them fight each other. Although they are friends and it may never happen.

I also think it is not a good idea to distract the main event fighters with coaching, especially if one of them doesn't have to do it.

I think they should change the format of the show a little and choose real trainers and not fighters to coach. Like Team Jackson vs Team Couture.. wait a minute .. Couture is a fighter... well you get what I am saying...

Fucklord- May 28, 2009 at 7:53 am

It's not rashad its Shogun and Rampage

Bare Grappler- May 28, 2009 at 7:52 am

Thank Jesus! Machida isn't a coach. I could not put up with 13 weeks of "your mind is your blade" bullshit.

TheRealKadumel- May 28, 2009 at 7:43 am

I don't think he should train against Karate or Machida, I want to see a Pride style bloodbath of a tournament so no one can train to fight anyone else, since they never know who they are going to fight later or whatever. That would be so much more epic.

ArmFarmer- May 28, 2009 at 7:40 am

I'm so sick of that retarded reality show keeping the best fighters tied up for so long. Honeslty.. who gives a fuck about tuf and coach rivalry.

Also, assuming he doesn't get caught with something fluky (anything can happen)Machida is going to hold that belt for a while if you can't accept that as the most likely scenario then you're in denial. People act like everyones jumping on the Machida bandwagon as if beating Rashad was the only thing he's ever accomplished. It's not just that.. he ko'd Rich Franklin, beat Bj Penn, Mauled Bonnar, and has walked right through everyone he's faced in the ufc.

The way I see it between Jardine, Rampage, Forrest, Rashad, Shogun, and maybe one or two others, any one of those guys could beat any other one on any given day. Rampage has beaten Jardine, Jardine has beaten Forrest, Forrest has beaten Rampage, Rashad has beaten Forrest.. any of those fights could easily go either way they are all on the same level. Hell Tito even tied Rashad and beat Forrest. Machida has made everyone he's fought look like amateurs, including Tito, Rashad, and Franklin. He will hold the belt.

AntonG420- May 28, 2009 at 7:32 am

hahahaha they are gonna run out of 40s

Richard Tucker- May 28, 2009 at 7:26 am

I'm guessing the coaches' challenge will either be a dice game or a slam-dunk contest.